Apparatus of the turbomachine type for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy, such as blowers, compressors, pumps, turbines, fluid motors, and the like, comprises a combination of specially designed "rotor" or impeller blades (70) together with associated stationary outlet guide vanes (58) which may be of single, tandem or multiple vane type construction. Inlet guide vanes (72) may also be used. This invention also relates to a method of generating pressurized fluid in which the flow of fluid is first deflected by a substantial amount while simultaneously maintaining the relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection fluid at least at one location between hub and tip followed by generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid and keeping the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity following the generation of said deflection equal to approximately 0.66 or less. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a boundary layer along flow directing surfaces contained within a blower, pump and the like. The method comprises the steps forming a fluid flow path having flow directing surfaces, generating a flow of fluid through said flow path along said flow directing surfaces while simultaneously forming a boundary layer on said flow directing surfaces (74), forming a fluid flow passage (75), and removing a portion of the boundary layer from a first part (75a) of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces and returning said portion of said boundary layer to the fluid flow path at a location (75b) upstream of said first part (75a) by simultaneously connecting said fluid passage (75) in fluid communication with said first part (75a) and said upstream location (75b). The invention also relates to the method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy while simultaneously controlling the boundary layer formed on the flow directing surfaces contained in the fluid flow path.

Method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure and controlling boundary layer

The outlet of a centrifugal compressor is provided with an annular row of movable diffuser vanes which align with the fluid flow direction to prevent a surge condition. Each movable diffuser vane has a pivot axis forward of the vane's center of pressure to cause the fluid from the impeller to move the vane such that the flow meets the diffuser vane leading edge with a near-zero incident angle. The vanes are floating or freely movable on the pivot axis except for spring bias which prevents flutter. In some embodiments, the movable vanes are upstream of primary fixed diffuser vanes, of the vane-island or of the airfoil vane type, and are movable between a closed position abutting the primary vanes to variable open positions which create auxiliary diffuser channels.

Self-aligning vanes for a turbomachine

An improved variable geometry diffuser assembly is provided. This assembly includes a variety of features that reduce the leakage and improve the precision within the assembly. These features include: sealing disks mounted to the vane; cantilevered vanes mounted for rotation to coolside diffuser wall only, thereby reducing the effects of thermal growth on the assembly; and self lubricating, non-metallic bushings for supporting the various components in the assembly thereby reducing friction and any need for lubrication. Each vane is coupled to a single unison ring through an arm member also employing non-metallic bushings.

Variable geometry diffuser assembly

A diffuser vane assembly for a centrifugal compressor includes movable vanes which are inserted or retracted from the diffuser passage through slots in one of the diffuser walls The vane assembly is axially movable by an internally threaded drum and gear arrangement A hand crank external to the compressor is effective to rotate the drum and thereby axially move the plate and attached vanes within the diffuser passage

Variable vane height diffuser

A diffuser centrifugal compressor of a comprising a plurality of stator blades provided outside an impeller thereof, and which converts kinetic energy of fluid from the impeller into pressure energy by operation of the stator blade. The diffuser is provided with sub-blades near the inner ends of the stator blades, and intermediate blades near outer ends of and between the stator blades.

Diffuser for centrifugal compressor

A CENTRIFUGAL FLUID-FLOW TURBOMACHINE HAS DIFFUSER PROVIDED WITH TWO COAXIALLY ARRANGED ROWS OF ROTATABLE GUIDE VANES THROUGH WHICH THE FLUID FLOWS IN SUCCESSION. THE PIVOT AXES OF THE VANES OF SAID TWO ROWS ARE DISPLACEABLE IN RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL DIRECTION OF THE ROWS.

Boelcs Albin Dipl Ing

Papers

Diffuser for a centrifugal fluid-flow turbomachine